The National Population Commission (NPC) has given reasons
why the 2023 census was postponed.
On Saturday, Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture,
announced that the census had been postponed and that the NPC would announce
the new date.
The postponement of the census comes a few weeks after the
commission assured Nigerians of its readiness to conduct the exercise.
WHY THE CENSUS WAS POSTPONED
In an interview with TVC on Sunday, Isiaka Yahaya, NPC
spokesperson, said the exercise was rescheduled so that the incoming
administration would actively participate in it.
He countered rumours that the census was postponed owing to
inadequate funding and insisted that the commission was fully prepapred.
“When we say postponement, it gives the impression that
we’re going to start all over again, but to us at the commission, you know the
process started long ago. So many steps have been taken and what remains to be
done is to conclude the process. In a way, we consider it as rescheduling,”
Yahaya said.
“Some of these
reasons that are been insinuated are not true. First, the census was postponed,
not because the National Population Commission is not prepared. We are actually
prepared to conduct the census and we have taken all the necessary steps to
carry out the exercise. So, that is not the reason.
“Again, it has been insinuated that…it’s due to finance.
That is also not true. The federal government of Nigeria which has the primary
responsibility of funding the census has so far provided all the resources we
needed for the census and the stages that need to be carried out, that is the
training and the actual enumeration. We have no reason to believe that funds
will not be available as you know funds are always provided when needed.”
Yahaya added that the census was postponed owing to the mood
of the nation from the recently concluded elections.
He said the election rescheduling destablilised the NPC’s
plans as the census would be most efficient in a stable environment.
“First, the conduct of the census is not a maze. It’s not an
end itself but rather a means. You know that a census is conducted to use for
planning purpose and in a way, this should be a seamless exercise in which the
administration that conducts the census should also be the administration that
will use the census,” he said.
“Having looked at the need, we believe that the right thing
is done. It is important to have the incoming administration get an idea of how
the census will be conducted, to hone the process. If this is done, it will be
easier for that administration to utilise the census for planning purposes. So,
I believe that is one purpose why the census is being rescheduled.
“Another reason again has to do with the mood of the nation.
When we planned to conduct the census after election, we believe that we’ll be
able to have enough window between the period when the election will be
concluded and also when the census will be carried out. Unfortunately, the
rescheduling of the election did not allow for total evaporation of the mood.”
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